Hunting Snipe and Ducks

This winter I was fortunate enough to go on two amazing hunting experiences.

- Article by Emily Rollins Photos by John Rollins

The journey began on Christmas morning, 2023, when my dad, John Rollins, gifted me a Mossberg Silver Reserve 20ga shotgun. I was so excited I could not wait to join my dad and his friend's Facebook group, Wednesday Night, Shooters at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida.

To be honest, I did not do so well at first. After having taken some youth beginner's classes offered on Monday nights, the instructors diagnosed my problem: I was right-handed but left-eye dominant. After switching, and now shooting left-handed, I started to get the hang of it. My mom Lauren, dad and I continued shooting at Markham Park for the next year and a half. Once I felt confident and comfortable, my dad asked some friends to take us hunting.

I honored tradition and ate the snipe heart.

First, we got invited to join his friends Russ “Diesel” Aaron, his daughter Cheyenne Aaron, and her friend Lily Altman on a snipe hunt. I did not know what a snipe was, but I was so excited to go. I even woke up before my 6:30 AM alarm.